Chris Burslem, Bangkok
Electronics Industry Posts High Growths
Despite the slump in the global computer industry, Thailand's electronics business remains robust, posting export growth rates of 13 to 51 per cent in the first five months of the year. And industry insiders say the country could lead East and Southeast Asia (Japan excluded) in the production of computer parts and components by the year 2010 if the government adopts the right policies
However, they stress that this could all be mere pipedreaming unless quality, technology and personnel are upgraded and custom procedures and duties which penalize the import of capital goods and other materials are overhauled.
A critical problem for the sector is its reliance on imported intermediate products and raw materials. But this could be solved through more flexible tax regimes that would encourage the creation of fully integrated industries on Thai soil.
Government planners have singled out electronics as the sector that could lead the way to more value added production for Thailand and export figures for the first half of the year suggest they are on the right track in theory.
The export of computers and peripherals grew by 51.2 percent in the first five months, up from 39 percent last year. Other segments of the electronics industry also grew at satisfactory rates ranging from 13 per cent to 36 per cent.
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